Welcome to Carina Axelsson, who will be giving away a print copy of her debut US release Model Undercover-Paris. (US/Canada only)

Background of Model Undercover – Paris

At its heart, underneath the twinkling Eiffel Tower and fashionably dressed heroine on the book’s cover, Model Undercover: Paris is a detective novel. I blame Scooby-Doo for this; as a child I was glued to the television on Saturday mornings, desperate to see what case Scooby and his gang had to crack next. From Scooby I moved on to Nancy Drew and Sherlock Holmes before reading my first Agatha Christie, And Then There Were None. I’ve been a firm fan of the detective genre ever since…although, at the time, I do remember wishing that I could read about a young detective, someone living in the here and now…so I suppose Axelle, my sixteen-year-old fashion detective, is my answer to that yearning.

I’m still completely hooked on detective novels, and read as many as I can, alternating between rereading lovely old classics like Wilkie Collins’s The Woman in White, to brand new offerings. Right now I’m really looking forward to (finally!) reading J.K. Rowling’s The Cuckoo’s Calling and The Silkworm.

As for the strong fashion element in the Model Undercover book series…well, I certainly never thought I’d be writing about the fashion world – even if it is a world I know well!

I was living in Paris, France, doing a stint as personal assistant to fashion designer John Galliano (who at the time was designing for Christian Dior), when I wrote my first notes about a girl detective who solves fashion mysteries. No doubt the chaos and color, not to mention the outsized characters I met, all conspired to influence me!

Prior to this, I’d worked as a fashion model for many years, so I had plenty of personal experiences to draw on when it came time to create a believable world for my sassy fashion detective!

Furthermore, I’ve been lucky enough to live and work for many years in beautiful Paris, so it came naturally to me to place the first Model Undercover mystery in this dazzling European capital I know so well.

So is it fun to write mysteries?

Absolutely! I love it!

And what about writing fashion mysteries?

It’s been a blast to be able to recycle and use so many of my fashion memories. It’s as if I spent all those years in the fashion world just to write this series!

Thank you, Long and Short Reviews, for this chance to tell readers a bit about the background of my debut teen series!

Carina x

Nancy Drew meets The Devil Wears Prada in the debut of this action-packed mystery series

Axelle Andersen wants nothing more than to be a teen-sleuth despite the influence of her pushy fashionista aunt,Venetia. So when top fashion designer Belle La Lune goes missing, and Aunt Venetia becomes a prime suspect, Axelle must go undercover as a model during Paris Fashion Week to uncover the truth behind Belle’s disappearance and clear her aunt’s name. She’s thrust into a frenetic world of castings, photo shoots, and sequins, while struggling to fit in and track down clues. Can Axelle solve a kidnapping and survive the world of fashion?

About the AuthorCarina Axelsson is a writer, illustrator, and former model. She grew up in California with her Swedish father and Mexican mother. After high school, Carina moved to New York City to model, then on to Paris where she published her first book. She currently lives in in the forests of Germany with four dogs and a very large aquarium full of fish.

The Atomic City Girls

Heaven’s Watcher

My Favorite Mistake

Taking Desire

Needing Desire

Running Hot

Frost Moon

Blue Light Special

Review Star Rating Definitions

1 Star – We currently do not review any story with a 1 star rating. If it’s DNF or a “wall-banger” we decline to review.

2 Stars — Not wonderful, but tolerable. There may be some minor editing glitches but not enough to stop you reading. Not a wall-banger, but nothing you’d re-read. This is a book you would borrow from the library – not buy- and never check out again. You might recommend it to a friend with a mention of the glitches, knowing that something in the plot or story would still appeal to them regardless.

3 Stars — Good. Mostly enjoyable. You made it through and didn’t consider it a waste of time or money. The story was strong enough or the conflict tight enough, so even when the book faltered, it was able to draw you back in and keep you. There’s a chance you’ll recommend it to a friend, but it wouldn’t go on your keeper shelf.

4 Stars — Very Good. You’re glad you were the one who got to review the book. You would probably buy it and would definitely recommend it to your friends. You liked the characters and the plot. The writing style was good and the editing clean.

5 Stars — Great! You would definitely buy this book. You would definitely recommend it to your friends. You really loved the characters and the plot and would consider looking for this authors back list or making her an autobuy. The writing and editing were superb.

LASR Best Book – For a book or story that is truly exceptional. You think about it when you’re not reading it. You wonder what happens to the characters when you finish. You would absolutely buy everything else this author had to offer. The highest praise – and reserved for only a few.

Review Heat Level Descriptions

SWEET: no visual love scenes and no descriptive kissing;

SENSUAL: Contains a high degree of sexual tension, steamy kisses and passionate clinches, but all fully consummated love scenes will be implied, not described, and with the bedroom door firmly closed.

SPICY: Contains actual love scenes and may include detailed descriptions of foreplay and consummation.

HOT: Contains sizzling and very detailed love scenes throughout and graphic, explicit content which may be offensive to some.

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FTC Disclaimer:

Most books reviewed on this site have been provided free of charge by the publisher, author or publicist. On occasion, we review books we have purchased with our own money or borrowed from a public library. Any links to places to purchase books are provided as a convenience, and do not serve as an endorsement by this blog. All reviews are the true and honest opinion of the blogger reviewing the book. The method of acquiring the book does not have a bearing on the content of the review.